The Raid | The Raid

At a glance:

Author: Leo Tolstoy
First Published: 1853
Type of Plot: Realism
Time of Work: The 1850's
Setting: The Russian Caucasus
Principal Characters: The narrator, Captain Pavel Hlopov, Marya Ivanovna Hlopov, Ensign Anatole Ivanovich Alanin, Ivan Mihailovich Hasanov, Lieutenant Rosenkranz
Genres: Realism, Short fiction
Subjects: Love or romance, Nineteenth century, Courage, Fear, War, Duty, Death or dying, Loyalty, Heroes or heroism, Soldiers, Patriotism, Russia or Russian people
Locales: Russia, Caucasus

The anonymous narrator begins by describing how a certain Captain Pavel Hlopov visits him in his hut in the Russian Caucasus to inform him of an impending Russian military action against the native Tatar tribesmen. As a consequence of their conversation, the two men begin to discuss the concept of bravery. Captain Hlopov offers a definition of bravery that reminds the narrator of Plato's definition; the captain says quite concisely: “He's a brave man who behaves as he ought.” The narrator adds that the man who risks his life out of vanity, or curiosity, or greed...

The Raid | The Raid

At a glance:

The Story

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